The 19 Times Table Trick: How to Learn the Multiplication Table of 19 in 5 Seconds

 




Most people can rattle off the 2, 5, and 10 times tables in their sleep. But the moment someone asks, "What's 19 times 7?" even adults start counting on their fingers. That is exactly why the 19 times table trick has gone viral on Facebook and Tik Tok — it lets anyone master the entire multiplication table of 19 in about five seconds, without memorizing a single extra fact.

In this post, you will learn the exact shortcut, see the full table of 19 laid out clearly, and discover three bonus methods that make the 19 times table stick forever. Whether you are a student preparing for a math test, a parent helping your child with multiplication facts, or just someone who loves a good mental math hack, this trick is for you.

The 19 Times Table at a Glance


Before we get to the trick, here is the complete table of 19 (19 × 1 through 19 × 10):
MultiplicationAnswer
19 × 119
19 × 238
19 × 357
19 × 476
19 × 595
19 × 6114
19 × 7133
19 × 8152
19 × 9171
19 × 10190

Looks like a lot to memorize, right? Not anymore. Let's break down why these numbers are actually incredibly easy.

The Trick: Write the Odd Numbers, Then Count Down


Here is the multiplication shortcut trick that made the viral video. It works because of two hidden patterns inside the 19 times table .

Step 1 — Write the odd numbers in the tens place.

Look at the first digits (or tens values) of the answers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19. That's just the first ten odd numbers in order.

Step 2 — Count down the ones place.
Now look at the last digit of each answer: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. The ones digits simply count down from 9 to 0.

Put them together and you can rebuild the whole table in seconds:

Tens (odd numbers)
Ones (counting down)
Answer
1
9
19
3
8
38
5
7
57
7
6
76
9
5
95
11
4
114
13
3
133
15
2
152
17
1
171
19
0
190
Notice what happens at 19 × 6: the "tens" value crosses into three digits (11, then 13, 15...), so 11 becomes 114 — the last digit of the ones column is still just the number that pairs with it. Once you see the pattern, you never need a calculator for it again.

Bonus Trick: The 9 Times Table Connection


If the odd-numbers pattern isn't clicking, there is a second way that connects the 19 times table to something kids already know — the 9 times table.
Write down the ones digits of the 9 times table: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Then, in front of each digit, place the natural numbers 1 through 10. Read down the column: 1-9 makes 19, 3-8 makes 38, 5-7 makes 57, and so on. It produces exactly the same results .

Bonus Trick: The "Times 20, Minus 1" Method


This one is perfect for mental math on the fly. Since 19 is just 20 minus 1, you can calculate any multiple of 19 in two easy steps:

19 × n = (20 × n) − n
For example, 19 × 6 becomes 20 × 6 = 120, minus 6, which equals 114. And 19 × 8 becomes 20 × 8 = 160, minus 8, which is 152. Multiplying by 20 is easy (multiply by 2 and add a zero), so this trick works even for big numbers like 19 × 12 = 240 − 12 = 228 .

Why Learning This Trick Matters (Beyond the Test)


Memorizing multiplication facts is about more than passing a quiz. In the United States, fluency with multiplication facts is a core standard taught in third and fourth grade, and it directly affects how fast students handle fractions, percentages, area calculations, and long division later on.

The benefits go well beyond the classroom:

Faster everyday math. Whether you are splitting a dinner bill, calculating a 19% restaurant tip (yes, this trick makes that one easier too), or figuring out a discount at the store, mental math speed saves real time.

Less math anxiety. Kids who have quick shortcuts gain confidence. When a student knows they can reconstruct any "hard" table in seconds, math stops feeling intimidating.
Stronger standardized test performance. On timed tests like the SAT and ACT, shaving even two seconds off small calculations adds up to extra minutes for harder questions.
Brain training for adults. Mental math shortcuts keep your number sense sharp — and they make a great party trick.

How to Practice the 19 Times Table Trick


Reading the trick once is not enough — your brain needs to see the pattern a few times before it locks in. Here is a simple 5-minute practice routine:

1.Say the tens column out loud: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19.

2.Say the ones column in reverse: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.

3.Combine them aloud two or three times — "1 and 9 make 19, 3 and 8 make 38..."

4.Quiz yourself in pairs — ask a friend or child random questions like "19 × 7?" until the answers feel instant.

Most people nail the whole table after two or three rounds. That is the real magic of the 19 times table trick — it turns ten numbers that feel random into one simple pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the trick to learn the table of 19?


The easiest trick is to write the first ten odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19) in the tens place and count the ones place down from 9 to 0. This pattern reproduces the entire multiplication table of 19 instantly .

Can you really learn the 19 times table in 5 seconds?

Yes — once you understand the pattern, reconstructing the full table takes about five seconds. The "memorizing" part takes a few practice rounds, but the pattern itself is learned in under a minute.

What is 19 × 19?

Using the trick (or repeated addition), 19 × 19 = 361. A quick shortcut: 19 × 20 = 380, then subtract 19 to get 361.

Why is the 19 times table so hard to memorize?

Unlike tables for 2, 5, or 10, the multiples of 19 have no obvious rhythm for most learners. But hidden inside the answers are clear patterns — odd numbers in the tens column and a countdown in the ones column — which is exactly what the trick exploits .

Is this trick suitable for kids?

Absolutely. It works especially well for students in grades 3–6 who are mastering multiplication facts, and teachers and parents in the U.S. commonly use pattern-based tricks to help kids with "hard" tables like 12, 13, 17, and 19.

Final Word

The 19 times table trick proves that math is less about brute-force memorization and more about spotting patterns. In five seconds, the odd-numbers pattern turns one of the hardest multiplication tables into one of the easiest — and with the 9-times-table method and the "times 20, minus 1" backup, you will never be stuck on a multiple of 19 again.
If this trick helped you, share it with a student, a parent, or a friend who says they are "bad at math." You might just change the way they see numbers forever.



Post a Comment

0 Comments